springing the blues festival

Friday Night: Nicole Hart and Eric Steckel with The Craig Thatcher Band
By:Rick Grant
From: EU Jacksonville
Date: April 2008

Time moves inexorably on, and suddenly 18 years have passed since I covered the first George’s music Springing the Blues Festival (GMSTBF). The event is still near and dear to my heart since I’m a blues aficionado. Over the years, I’ve witnessed many blues legends perform at GMSTBF. Some of them are no longer with us, but their legacy lives on through this festival.
My motivation to cover the Friday night schedule was to check out Eric Steckel and The Craig Thatcher Band. This seasoned group needed a frontman, so they joined forces with Eric, who is truly a phenomenon. Eric’s contacts in Europe, having toured with John Mayall, give CTB a boost in exposure. Likewise, the veteran band gives Eric a solid foundation to showcase his monster talent. It’s quid pro quo for Eric and CTB.
Eric looks so unassuming in person, but when he straps on his Stratocaster, and unleashes his mighty chops, every member of the audience’s jaw drops into their laps. When I hear the word prodigy, I say “ho-hum.” These days, it seems guitar prodigies are coming out of the woodwork. But when one uses the term “prodigy” to describe Eric it resonates as something special. The truth is whereever Eric came from, now he can hold his own with any guitar idol on the planet.
For Eric, the future looks bright indeed. He will soon graduate from high school and plans to go to Flagler College, while continuing his busy touring schedule during the summers. When I witnessed him perform with CTB, I hadn’t seen his act in over a year. Wow, his playing has ascended into the deep space of solo guitar since then. His solos with Craig Thatcher on a Les Paul were truly inspiring.
Overall, CTB has broadened Eric’s musical horizons since this well established rock band blends Southern Rock with blues and originals. CTB has opened for Robin Trower and a legion of other rock legends. Frankly, I think Eric’s advanced guitar technique has been greatly expanded under Craig Thatcher’s influence. The two guitar slingers often trade off runs and play unison riffs. It was a wonder to behold.
When I arrived on the scene, Nicole Hart and The NRG Band was into its set. Witnessing Nicole’s vocal skill was a bonus for this 18th GSTBF experience. Clearly, Nicole has the chops to compete in the big time blues and R&B circuits. And, she’s pretty as well. So having a beautiful chick blues artist gave the Friday night schedule some class and sass. Her voice harkens back to her gospel roots, exuding blues soul. The band’s funky rhythms give Nicole a chance to strut her stuff with authority.
Nicole’s band and career are directed by producer, arranger, and keyboardist Lance Ong, who has produced David Sanborn and Andre Crouch. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Nicole is a talent who is on the move up in the biz. At the festival, Nicole was blues enough to get the partisan blues crowd moving, and funky enough to get anyone else on their feet doing the boogie-woogie.
In the past, Nicole has worked with Billy Joel, Michael Bolton, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. But now, she’s out touring making a name for herself. At her GMSTBF appearance, I was impressed by her ability to work the crowd into a frenzy with her voice and stage antics. This gal knows how to use her beauty to enhance her talent without turning it into a distraction.